Chapter Fourteen
They drove in the convertible enjoying the wind as it blew past them. The sky was overcast, almost as if it was for them.
As they were getting close to the stables Susan inhaled the good country air and savoured the smell of freshly mowed hay. "Oh that smells so good." She closed her eyes and for a moment saw themselves watching workers cutting hay in a field by using scythes. They were half lying, watching out of a loft door. Obviously they had been enjoying each other's company and were re-dressing. Suddenly the head of an older man came through the trap door of the loft. He had a long bullwhip and started whipping them both. Angel fell backwards through a hole in the floor to a pile of hay below. "Whore!" the old man grabbed Susan by the wrist and dragged her. "You shame your own husband!"
Suddenly Susan opened her eyes with a start and she found herself gasping for air. Angel was pulling the car over to the shoulder of the road and as he stopped he grabbed her and held her tight. "What happened? You grabbed hold of my leg and screamed like someone was going to kill you."
"God Angel, we were lovers ... must be one or two hundred years ago ... they were cutting hay by hand ... and I was married to an old ogre." Susan rambled on in confusion.
"I know ... I've had dreams of you being beaten by some old man. At first I thought the dreams were just because you were so beaten when you came to me, but I've seen him too, an evil old man with a long bull whip."
They sat just holding each other, then Angel added, "Maybe horseback riding wouldn't be such a good idea right now. I wouldn't want that happening to you when you were on a horse."
Another piece of the puzzle had been put into place. It would be nice when the puzzle could be made complete, he thought, as long as the picture could be a good one. But sometimes it didn't look like it was. The sun was starting to poke through the clouds and Angel put the top up on the car.
Susan was still visibly shaken. "So we know we were lovers years ago, but why are they bringing us back together now? What is happening, Angel? And why are they going to tear us apart again? Are the powers enjoying this little comedy of horrors? They are so cruel; they want us to be together, but not completely. They are dangling sex in front of us like a carrot. I love being with you, but I don't like their games."
"I know, lamb," Angel said trying to comfort her.
"Where did that come from ... lamb?"
"I don't know it just came out," Angel too, was having a hard time with so few answers. "Damn it Susy, I don't know any more than you do!" He hit the steering wheel with his fist. "They are hurting me too you know. We are in this together. I love you and they are going to take you away from me too!"
Susan wrapped her arms around him and just held on. Quietly she said, "You used to call me your lamb."
Angel drove the car back on to the road, and just started driving to nowhere in particular. He would have liked to just keep driving, to take his love and run away from all of this, but he knew that would prove to be fruitless. They were going to have to face their destiny.
They just drove for a couple of hours, mostly in silence. They were both wondering what the right way to handle this was. They could probably go to a hypnotist and find out more of the pieces, but maybe knowing wasn't the best thing. Lorne had said that they would know everything when the time was right. They would probably be best to wait.
The evening was starting to approach and the sun was getting low over the skyline. They had been back in the city for a while. "You getting hungry?" Angel asked, "We've still got a couple of hours before the party."
"That would be good."
"I know just the place to go." Angel drove for another fifteen minutes then turned the car into "The Gypsy Village Restaurant," parking lot.
"Real Gypsies?" Susan asked.
"Of course."
"The kind that cursed you with a soul?"
"The same, but the soul was not the curse."
"Angel, come in," welcomed the woman greeting the patrons. She was dressed in a very traditional costume. "Oh Angel, my daughters will be very disappointed," she said putting her hand on this cheek. As she turned to Susan she continued, "but I certainly am not." She took Susan's hand gently and although it did burn she did not pull away. "Such an old soul in such young eyes." She looked down at Susan's red hands, "Oh, my child, you have been cursed in such a cruel way." She took her apron and wrapped it around Susan's hands, immediately the burning stopped. "Unfortunately this is not a gypsy curse and I cannot undo it."
"Susy, this is Mama Horvath, Mama, this is Susan Lockwood." Susan nodded in response.
"You are very quiet, child, but that is alright, your heart and your eyes speak well for you. Angel, go to the bar for drinks for yourself and your young lady and ask papa to come sit with us." Mama spoke to a young waitress is Hungarian, then led the way to a small round table near the back.
Mama wrapped her own hands in her apron, "Child give me your hands." Susan placed them on top of the apron and Mama very quietly read the lines. Just as she was finishing Angel and Mr. Horvath came to the table.
Mama spoke to papa in Hungarian to which he nodded and gave Susan a slight bow, "Welcome," he said
Angel set a gin fizz down in front of Susy, "That alright?"
"It's fine, thanks."
Angel drank from a mug, which had a thin line of steam rising from it, but Susan knew well what it was. The waitress set a basket of biscuits on the table and behind her came two others bringing bowls of soup, one for each. They enjoyed quiet dinner conversation and when the dishes were cleared away a cup of tea was served to each. There were no seconds offered. As soon as Angel and Susan's cups were empty Mama took each cup carefully then held them both together as she observed the leaves inside.
"Well Mama," asked papa, "what do you see for these young lovers?" Angel gave a slight laugh, as he was easily two hundred years older than either of them. Susan leaned into Angel as the put his arm around her. "You certainly fit well together," papa laughed.
"Dimetri, really ... his fortune telling is so amateur."
"What do you see for us, mama," Angel asked anxiously. It was already almost nine and Cordelia would be rather upset if they were anything other than fashionably late.
"I think I see a gypsy wedding. What do you think?"
"We don't really have time for a wedding," Susan remarked.
"We'll have you married and out of here within the hour. I'm afraid it won't stand up in court, but it does wonders for young lovers and their souls."
Susan look at Angel with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Let's do it!" Angel grinned.
The other patrons had already left by this time. Mama clapped her hands twice and immediately six employees lined up. Mama said something again in Hungarian and suddenly there was much motion. Papa asked Angel to go with him, and Susan left with Marie, one of the Horvath's daughters. They were similar in size and Susan felt that was why she was chosen to assist. Within half an hour the stage was set and Angel waited beside papa for his bride. He wore a beautifully embroidered white shirt with large puffy sleeves and tight cuffs. Susan entered the room wearing a light blue knee length skirt and a blouse decorated similarly to Angel's shirt. In her hair she wore a ring of white daisies. She looked beautiful, but her smile was what Angel noticed. She was obviously very happy to be his wife and that made him happy. Mama asked them to face each other and hold their hands, palms together in front of themselves. Mama held her hands near their heads and spoke in Hungarian. The ceremony was very short and Susan did not understand a word said, but she felt a warmth creep through her body. Everything felt very right.
"Angel, kiss your bride, you are now united in marriage." He pulled Susan close and their lips met in a long kiss.
"Okay kids," papa said, patting Angel on the back, "the ceremonial drink and you can make it official."
They were each given a tiny glass of a white drink that smelled strongly of liquorice. They touched glasses and downed the liqueur, which felt very warm.
Mama held Angel's hand but spoke to Susan, "I'm sorry I cannot tell you what you want to hear. You must still use the potion and you will be parted, but do know that it is as planned." Then she looked into Angel's eyes and put her hand on his cheek. "When it is time, do not blame yourself. It was not of your doing, but of evil. You should remember that also, Susan."
Mama took her hands in her apron and held Susan's again. "It is a good thing that you have found each other again. A great wrong will be made right."
As they left the restaurant Susan asked, "Why does it seem more complicated than it was before?"
Angel shrugged, "I guess we are just going to have to play along with it."
It was a little after ten by the time they were on their way again, "Cordy will probably be fit to be tied by now, but I have to stop for a minute at this all night store." Angel pulled up to the door. "You be alright for a couple of minutes?" Seeing as the entire front of the store was glass Susan thought she should be able to keep sight of him while he was inside. He went and asked the clerk something and they both walked to the other side of the store. Angel took a glance out of the window at Susan before bending down at the counter. In a moment he had straightened up and paid the clerk, and came out the door carrying a small package.
He got back into the car and handed Susy the package. "For you," he said, "It isn't much, but the best this little store has to offer."
She pulled a small box out of the bag and gave a little laugh of relief. "I thought for a moment you felt the need for protection."
"Unfortunately being a vampire I have no worry of fathering a child." Susan opened the box and found inside a gold ring made of hearts entwined. "So you won't forget me when we are apart."
"It's beautiful Angel," He placed it on the ring finger of her left hand and once again sealed their commitment with a kiss. "But you need not worry about me forgetting you. I can remember you from two hundred and fifty years ago, I'll remember you forever." This time she reached up and returned his passion ever so gently,
"Well, we better go face the wrath that is Cordelia," he said as they drove out of the parking lot.
It was obvious that Cordy's small party was certainly not limited to a few. If there had not been a space kept open in front of the hotel they would have had to walk at least a block in any direction to find a space.
As they opened the door, music floated past them to the street, and it appeared to be wall-to-wall guests. Susan tucked herself under Angel's arm, "I hope they aren't all the huggy, kissy type."
Cordelia met them at the door with the look of a storm cloud about to release its fury. "Where have you two been? I thought I was clear on the nine o'clock idea. What are you wearing?"
"Well Cordy," Angel started, "we were at a gypsy wedding and we were the guests of honour." Susy held up her hand to show the ring.
Cordy gave a little jump as she hugged Angel and Susan, directing most of the touching to him, "This is wonderful."
Suddenly Wesley and his date appeared out of the crowd. After hearing the news he gave Angel an over exuberant handshake and started to kiss Susan on the cheek but thought better of it. She leaned ahead and touched her cheek to his for the hint of a second.
Cordelia grabbed Angel's hand and dragged them both into a nearby room, obviously intended for entertaining. As they went through the crowd Angel was constantly acknowledging people and Susan kept her shy place under his wing.
Cordy turned down the music and stood on a chair, clinking her glass with her ring. Slowly the crowd went silent. "The guests of honour have arrived finally, but we'll forgive them for being late. It seems they were kind of busy getting married." A gasp went through the crowd, then the sound of applause.
Susan leaned to Angel's ear and smiled, "I guess you were the last of the eligible bachelors. Think you surprised a few people." Angel gave her a small smile and a gentle kiss to which the crowded room erupted in approval again.
Angel took Cordy's place on the chair and held up his hand until the room went quiet. "You all know how I hate making speeches. I guess it took a woman to get me up here. I'm sorry we had to surprise you this way, but actually this has all been a kind of surprise for us too. Thank you all for coming, we really appreciate it." As Angel stepped off of the chair, Gunn arrived with champagne for the couple and toasted them both. "To Angel and Susy, may they have eternal happiness together." The room filled with the sound of raised glasses touching.
Again Cordy was on the chair, "If she can get him to make a speech in a room full of people, maybe she can get him to dance, too!" Angel looked a little worried, but Susan said, "Just hold me, the rest will come naturally." The small dance floor they were standing on opened up and the song. "To Make You Feel My Love," started to play, and she was right is did come naturally.
The party went well into the morning and slowly after many handshakes and well wishes the crowd dwindled down to a few. Susan found that if she held her glass in one hand and Angel in the other she could avoid skin-to-skin contact most of the time.
The three employees had partied hard and were a little worse for wear. Time eventually found them asleep on the couches near the front desk. As the sun started to show itself the last guest left. Angel and Susan went upstairs together, arm in arm. Wesley's voice could be heard from below. "We'll get this cleaned up shortly then wait for your call before we come back to work."
"Thanks for everything guys," Angel said down the stairs.
They were both exhausted with their busy day and slept entwined until the moon was once again in the sky. Neither of them dreamt about the past nor the present. The gypsy blessing must have worked for them to take away their fears.
Angel's eyes opened to find Susan looking into them. Her eyes were a beautiful sky blue, as deep as any ocean. For a moment Angel could see what Mama Horvath had meant about a very old soul. "Good morning," he said, stretching.
"You mean, 'Good evening,' we've slept the clock around and then some." Susan hesitated then asked, "Angel, I was wondering, do you only have one name, just Angel?"
"I suppose so, I don't ever remember another name."
"So my name is Mrs. Susan Angel .... hmm, sounds kind of funny, maybe it should be Mr. Angel Lockwood." Susy knew exactly what his reaction would be as she tried to make a dash out of the bed and they both slid out on to the floor.
"What are these?" Angel asked as he held up the corner of a black satin sheet. "A gift from Gunn no doubt, likes to think he is the sexpert."
"I'm going to take a shower," he said getting up from the floor.
"So as your wife now I can join you?"
Angel picked her up grinning, "You can join with me anytime you like." But he tossed her on the bed, "But remember for now we have to practice some restraint." To which he walked into the bathroom and started the water. Susan lay on the bed admiring her ring. So much had happened in only two weeks and yet it had taken over two hundred years to get there.